National Highway Traffic Safety Administration

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DOT in 'Crisis' Mode Over New Stats on Road Fatalities

They've hit a 15-year high, with more than 20K dead in US during first half of 2021

(Newser) - With more people back in schools and offices, that means there are more people on the road. But time stuck at home apparently hasn't done any favors for our driving skills, based on new stats from the Department of Transportation that show the highest number of traffic fatalities in...

As We Get Back Behind the Wheel, a 'Terrible Situation'

8 states saw at least a 30% increase in driving deaths in first half of 2021

(Newser) - We're still in the midst of a pandemic, but over the past year, more of us headed back to in-person work, school, and other activities, meaning more of us were again driving. New data from two major safety groups, however, show that we could use some refresher courses behind...

How Our Car Safety Ratings Went From Best to Worthless

Motherboard takes a look at the rise and stagnation of the NCAP

(Newser) - When it comes to car safety ratings, the US was a trailblazer. Not so much anymore. In a deep dive for Motherboard , Aaron Gordon traces the fairly recent history of these ratings, which were created in the final days of the Carter administration thanks to Joan Claybrook, then the head...

GM Must Recall 6M Trucks, SUVs
GM Must
Recall 6M
Trucks, SUVs
Nov 23, 2020 9:50 AM CST

GM Must Recall 6M Trucks, SUVs

Pricey move involves Takata air bags

(Newser) - The US is making General Motors recall and repair nearly 6 million big pickup trucks and SUVs equipped with potentially dangerous Takata air bag inflators, per the AP . The decision announced Monday by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration will cost the automaker an estimated $1.2 billion, about one-third...

One Tesla Burst Into Flames. The Other, Sheared Off.

One possible issue is the cars' Autopilot driving system

(Newser) - A federal agency with the power to seek recalls and issue fines is investigating two fatal Tesla crashes in Florida over the past week, Reuters reports. The Friday crash in Delray Beach involved a 2018 Model 3 that had its roof cut off when it passed under a tractor-trailer; the...

Chrysler Pacifica Owners Not Thrilled When Power Just Dies

Fiat Chrysler, dealers can't find what's causing stalling issue customers are complaining about

(Newser) - Minivans aren't exactly known for inspiring fear, but that's what's happening among Chrysler Pacifica owners, with more than 50 federal complaints filed about the vehicles suddenly stalling out while in use, leading to dangerous situations in which, luckily, no one has yet been injured. Dealers are scratching...

Drowsy Drivers as Bad as Drunk Drivers: Report

Fatigue kills 5K on our roads each year, says GHSA

(Newser) - Drivers are told to "get more sleep" in an alarming new report that finds drowsy drivers are much like drunk drivers but get far less attention. A person who's been awake for 18 hours has a similar driving ability as someone with a 0.05% blood-alcohol content, while...

Feds: Air Bags in Older Hondas Are Extremely Dangerous

One senator calls the vehicles 'deathtraps'

(Newser) - The US government is urging owners of 313,000 older Hondas and Acuras to stop driving them and get them repaired after new tests found that their Takata air bag inflators are extremely dangerous, the AP reports. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration said Thursday that it has data showing...

'Dark Day' for Pedestrians: Fastest Jump in Death Rate Ever

Fatalities expected to spike 10% from 2014 to 2015: GHSA report

(Newser) - Traffic fatalities increased 8.1% in 2015 from the previous year, per a National Safety Council study cited by Autoblog , but one group has been especially affected: pedestrians, who are projected to show a 10% increase in fatalities compared to 2014, per a report from the Governors Highway Safety Association....

Google's 'Robot' System Can Now Be Considered Legal Driver

This could be a big step

(Newser) - Up until recently, Google's self-driving cars have been limited to real-world activity only in certain states (i.e., not on the federal level), and only under certain conditions, Quartz notes. But this week the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration posted a Feb. 4 letter saying Google's self-driving system,...

Wheelchair Users Face Much Bigger Risk From Traffic

They're 36% more likely to die in collisions than walkers: study

(Newser) - Pedestrians in wheelchairs are a whopping 36% more likely to die in a traffic collision compared to those out walking, according to a new study that's raising concerns about driver awareness and the availability of crosswalks. Researchers at Georgetown University combed through news articles and data from the National...

GM Recalls SUVs Over Issue First Reported in 2010

Rear lift gates can fail suddenly, have caused 56 injuries

(Newser) - General Motors is recalling nearly 780,000 crossover SUVs mainly in North America because the rear power lift gates can suddenly fall and hit people. The company said today that it has 56 reports of injuries caused by the problem. The recall covers the Buick Enclave from 2008 to 2012;...

Stoners Are &#39;Safer&#39; Drivers Than Lushes
 Stoners Are 'Safer' 
 Drivers Than Lushes 
STUDY SAYS
Feb 12, 2015 3:28 PM CST

Stoners Are 'Safer' Drivers Than Lushes

Report finds those with THC in systems crash far less often than drunk drivers

(Newser) - As more states push to legalize marijuana , scientists have started to turn their attention toward the effects of driving after toking up. Stoners will likely rejoice at two recent studies by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration that appears to put them on the safer side of things: According to...

Dodge May Have Its Own Deadly Ignition Problem

One child killed in alleged incident

(Newser) - It looks like GM has some company in the faulty ignition switch club. Regulators are investigating complaints that certain older model Dodge Ram pickup trucks may have a defect that allows them to turn on even if no one his holding down the clutch, Bloomberg reports. The National Highway Traffic...

GM Hit With Record (but Tiny) Fine in Ignition Case

Company agrees to pay $35M

(Newser) - The US government is fining General Motors $35 million for delays in recalling small cars with faulty ignition switches . The government also says that GM will report safety issues faster in the future. The fine is the maximum allowed by law and a record at that, the Detroit News reports,...

New Rule Will Force Cars to Have a Rear Camera

Regulation intended to prevent backup accidents

(Newser) - Years late, the Transportation Department issued a rule today that will require rearview technology in all new cars and many light trucks—an effort to reduce deaths and serious injuries caused by backup accidents. NHTSA said the new rule, required in the Cameron Gulbransen Kids Transportation Safety Act, will save...

Feds Ignored Warnings on Deadly GM Glitch

And GM declined to fix it because it would be too expensive

(Newser) - Federal regulators twice ignored complaints about the Chevy Cobalt defect that has killed hundreds of people , congressional investigators alleged yesterday, and General Motors not only knew about the flaw , but nixed several fixes because they'd be too expensive, the Wall Street Journal reports. A breakdown of each allegation:
  • In
...

Feds Digging Into Tesla Car Fires

Elon Musk: There's 'no safer car on the road'

(Newser) - Tesla is facing more scrutiny following three car fires in six weeks. First, investors launched a lawsuit; now, the government is getting involved, USA Today reports. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration is now investigating two of the fires, both of which occurred after Model S undercarriages hit debris on...

Chrysler Refuses to Recall Jeeps Over Fuel Tank Fires

NHTSA urges automaker to recall 2.7M vehicles

(Newser) - Chrysler has rejected the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration's request to recall 2.7 million older Jeeps, saying that it believes the agency's concerns about fuel tank fires are unfounded. The NHTSA asked Chrysler to recall 1993-2004 Jeep Grand Cherokees and 2002-2007 Jeep Libertys after a probe into...

Honda Recalls 870K 'Runaway' Vehicles

SUVs, minivans roll away without key in ignition

(Newser) - Honda is recalling more than 870,000 minivans and SUVs worldwide because they can roll away even though drivers have removed the keys from the ignition. The recall announced today affects older-model vehicles sold mainly in the United States. They were big sellers with families because of their ample space...

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